Chinese supplier PanGood Power has begun large-scale manufacturing of axial-flux electric motors at its Lanxi plant in Zhejiang, marking one of the first serious attempts to industrialise a technology long confined to low-volume or niche applications.
According to state media coverage, the facility now runs five fully automated production lines with a combined annual capacity of 300,000 motor units, a figure that refers to designed output rather than current production.
The Lanxi base, operated by Shanghai-based PanGood Power, is presented by the company as the world’s first large-scale production line dedicated to axial-flux motors.
Each of the five automated lines incorporates 152 manufacturing processes, with PanGood reporting production yields above 98 percent and significant capital investment per line in the range of 50–60 million yuan (up to RM36.2 million).
The 300,000 units are meant for domestic and export markets.
PanGood’s growth is tied mainly to commercial and industrial electrification rather than mainstream passenger cars.
The company highlights use in new-energy buses, trucks and special vehicles, where its motors can reduce system weight and package size by roughly 50 percent compared with conventional radial-flux designs at similar power levels.
In heavy-duty applications, PanGood states that its axial-flux drives can cut a truck’s tare weight by around 200kg and lower electricity consumption by around 5–10 percent, benefits that are easier to monetise where vehicles operate many hours per day.
Beyond road transport, the company lists applications in agricultural machinery, marine equipment, electric motorcycles, robotics and low-altitude aircraft, saying its solutions now reach more than 30 countries and regions.
Export data cited in recent coverage shows sharp year-on-year growth in markets such as Turkey and Thailand, though exact volumes are not broken out.
Axial-flux motors arrange their magnetic and winding components as flat discs, with the magnetic field running parallel to the shaft.
This geometry enables a shorter axial length and higher torque and power density for a given weight, at the cost of more demanding thermal management and manufacturing precision.
The concept dates back to the early 19th century; public narratives around PanGood frequently reference Michael Faraday’s 1821 disc motor as an early embodiment of the principle, noting that materials and production limits kept the design out of mass-market vehicles for most of the subsequent 200 years.
In June 2026, PanGood and the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering (Chinese Academy of Sciences) unveiled a new high-performance magnetic steel tailored to axial-flux machines.
The partners reported an effective power density of 25.73 kW/kg, a maximum speed of 18,000 rpm, and torque density of 293 N·m/kg, figures they said exceed China’s 2040 roadmap targets for motor performance. These material advances are positioned as a key enabler for moving from small-batch to large-scale manufacturing.
PanGood’s push comes as several global players explore or deploy axial-flux technology in high-performance and commercial applications.
Mercedes-AMG acquired UK specialist YASA to develop axial-flux motors for its AMG E Performance hybrids, while Ferrari has employed axial-flux motor architectures in models such as the SF90 Stradale and subsequent hybrids.
Industry reports described the axial-flux segment as being at a “critical stage” of transition from low-volume to mass manufacturing, with multiple manufacturers preparing to scale production. PanGood’s Lanxi plant is central within this broader shift, as one of the first facilities to claim a dedicated, high-volume axial-flux line.
Despite the commercial-vehicle focus, PanGood is also developing products with potential passenger-car applications. In April 2025, French Tier-1 supplier Valeo announced a partnership to co-develop a compact axial-flux generator system aimed primarily at extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs).
The joint solution integrates motor and inverter functions and is described as ready for industrialisation, though neither company has tied it to a specific production model so far.
For now, the strongest business case remains in commercial and industrial segments, where high utilisation rates make even modest efficiency and weight gains financially significant.
PanGood’s expanding factory will effectively serve as a real-world test of whether axial-flux motors can move beyond specialist niches and compete at genuine automotive volumes.
